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Habitat selection by sympatric chiru and Tibetan gazelle in the Aru Basin,Chang Tang Nature Reserve, Tibet Autonomous Region,China

Migmar Wangdwei,Joseph L Fox   

  1. High M ountain Ecological Institut e,Department of Biology,Faculty of Science,Tibet University,Lhasa 850000,China
  • Online:2008-10-07 Published:2008-07-07

西藏羌塘自然保护区藏羚和藏原羚的生境选择

Migmar Wangdwei,Joseph L Fox   

  1. 西藏大学生命科学系高山生态研究所,拉萨 850000,China

Abstract: Habitat selection was examined between two sympatric ungulate species of the high Tibetan plateau,the chiru (Tibetan antelope)Pantholops hodgsoni and the Tibetan gazelle Procapra picticaudata. The study was conducted in a high elevation area of low human presence during the early part of two summers (2000 - 2001),within the Aru Basin,Tibet Autonomous Region,China. Potential niche divergence between chiru and Tibetan gazelle was assessed in relation to elevation, slope angle,distance to hills,aspect and vegetation type and resource selection functions were used to attempt to differentiate habitat selection between species. However,habitat selection by the two species was similar in most respects, with both selecting low elevation,relatively flat,northerly facing aspects in Stipa-forb vegetation. Both species strongly avoided Carex vegetation that was present in flat,low elevation sites. Differences between the two species were noted primarily in the gazelle’s somewhat greater use of near-hill and hill habitats,possibly related to both food selection and predator avoidance. The results suggest that the scale on which habitat separation occurs between these two species is generally both larger and smaller than that measured here,with plant community patchiness,within the Stipa-forb vegetation type for example, probably a key factor in determining differential habitat selection within the study site

Key words: Body size, Chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Habitat selection, Microhabitat, Tibetan gazelle (Procapra picti-caudata)

关键词: 藏羚 藏原羚 栖息地选择 微生境 身体大小